Good Morning Gloucester

We visited Wolf Hollow this past Sunday to take in their wolf presentation and meet the occupants.  It so happened that Sunday was the first time their new gift shop/ticket office was open to the public.  Previously, it had been held in the home of the owners.  I’ve never seen what the gift shop in the house looked like, but I feel confident in stating that the new building is an improvement.

Wolf Hollow is open Sundays only through the winter months from 1-3 PM.  It was very busy when we were there.  Honestly I was a little surprised at how many people were there.  Even though the day was sunny, it was only 20 degrees and the hour long program is  held outdoors.  I suggest purchasing your tickets in advance if you are considering a visit as space is limited and interest is high.

We saw seven wolves, which have not been raised in the wild so they were easily visible while the trainers were in the enclosure with them.  The viewing area is not particularly expansive but I was able to see what I hoped to see and to get adequate pictures.  The presentation was thorough and kept our attention even though we were seriously shivering.  Tickets are $8.50 for adults and $6.00 seniors/children 3-17 yrs of age.  I think we’ll go again and take some of our favorite children 3-17 years of age.

A reader sent in a cheaper place to buy the Northface Arctic Parka II.  The Northface one also doesn’t have real coyote fur if that’s something you care about.

http://www.backcountry.com has a discount code which you can access here, also free two day shipping.

Here’s the original post-

I can appreciate the finer things in life.  Ugg slippers which we talk about on the Podcast are one of life’s luxuries I’d gladly pay double for because they’re so far better than anything else I’ve ever put on my feet so I completely understand why they are priced the way they are.  The Canada Goose Jacket I can only assume is the same thing.  Only we just don’t have over $800 laying around for a jacket.

Now we got away this past weekend to Montreal.  One of my five favorite cities but also one of the coldest.  People in Montreal are very stylish, very polished, very European.  It’s also cold as fuck up there.  Negative digits routinely this time of year.  We stayed downtown and walked everywhere and wouldn’t you know more women than not and a ton of men were rocking Canada Goose Jackets or Canada Goose Jacket look-a-likes.

So while stuck at the airport for a bit I set out to find an alternative to the Canada Goose Jacket for Kate.  Surely there has to be a company out there that A) makes jackets, B) sees how much Canada Goose is charging for their jackets and C) has set out to make an equally as well performing jacket for way less money.

You can’t tell me that it costs anywhere close to $800 to produce these jackets.  I get that it’s become a total status symbol type thing but there is something to the fad, the comfort and style that can be replicated for far less money.

So I checked around and one alternative is the North Face Arctic Parka II  $298.95 Read the reviews here

Here’s the Canada Goose version which actually gets lower review ratings read the reviews here

(can the patch on the sleeve really be worth $500 more?)

Kate’s going to get the North Face one and we will report back.  Stay tuned!

A little background:

The McKays and The McElhenny’s came over for an adult gamenight last week.  We played “What Do You Meme” and while here Erin let Kate try on her Canada Goose Jacket.   The same type of  winter parka that our Kim Smith raves about.   Of course Kate fell in love.  After all these ladies have style for days.  Kate said the comfort was indescribable.  aaaaaand the obsession began…

I can appreciate the finer things in life.  Ugg slippers which we talk about on the Podcast are one of life’s luxuries I’d gladly pay double for because they’re so far better than anything else I’ve ever put on my feet so I completely understand why they are priced the way they are.  The Canada Goose Jacket I can only assume is the same thing.  Only we just don’t have over $800 laying around for a jacket.

Now we got away this past weekend to Montreal.  One of my five favorite cities but also one of the coldest.  People in Montreal are very stylish, very polished, very European.  It’s also cold as fuck up there.  Negative digits routinely this time of year.  We stayed downtown and walked everywhere and wouldn’t you know more women than not and a ton of men were rocking Canada Goose Jackets or Canada Goose Jacket look-a-likes.

So while stuck at the airport for a bit I set out to find an alternative to the Canada Goose Jacket for Kate.  Surely there has to be a company out there that A) makes jackets, B) sees how much Canada Goose is charging for their jackets and C) has set out to make an equally as well performing jacket for way less money.  

You can’t tell me that it costs anywhere close to $800 to produce these jackets.  I get that it’s become a total status symbol type thing but there is something to the fad, the comfort and style that can be replicated for far less money.

So I checked around and one alternative is the North Face Arctic Parka II  $298.95 Read the reviews here

Here’s the Canada Goose version which actually gets lower review ratings read the reviews here

(can the patch on the sleeve really be worth $500 more?)

Kate’s going to get the North Face one and we will report back.  Stay tuned!

                                               EDWARD NEWELL

This coming February marks the centennial of the loss of the Navy tug Cherokee off the coast of Delaware with the death of her commander, Gloucester native Edward Dolliver Newell, namesake of Newell Stadium at Gloucester High School.

Newell was born to prominent Gloucester dentist George Newell and his wife Carrie (Rust) on December 2, 1894. The Newell home was at 9 Hovey Street, nearby the field that would one day bear his name.  They were a well-known family; George practiced out of his office at 156 Main Street, and from 1934 to 1936, when he was in his eighties, served as mayor of Gloucester.  It is no surprise, then, that Edward distinguished himself as a master mariner while still in his late teens.

In October 1913, Newell graduated from the Massachusetts Nautical Training School — now Massachusetts Maritime Academy — and entered the merchant marine, serving aboard several civilian vessels.  Within a year, he was the third officer aboard the merchant ship Lexington, having previously served aboard the Rambler and San Juan, the latter making runs from New York to Puerto Rico.  Newell also earned a commission as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve and served aboard the USS Sterling.

When war broke out between the United States and the Central Powers, Newell joined the active Navy, and was sent to train in navigation in Boston.  Newell had distinguished himself sufficiently at sea to get a command of the recently commissioned Navy tug Cherokee.

Continue reading “More Local History from Jude Seminara” →

I love this spot for sunrise but I haven’t been back here since the summer mostly because I don’t like to venture through the park in the dark on my own, so my husband humored me yesterday and joined me in the -2 degree windchill.   I thought it was going to be a bust because the wall of clouds to the right were coming in quickly, but we were graced with a peek of sun!

**PLEASE NOTE: These pictures were taken well before Mr. Swan got himself frozen in the ice on Niles Pond. The following is in no way related to the current swan situation**

Mr. Swan was in Rockport Harbor recently with a few dozen of his closest friends.  I think he’s getting his ducks in order.

I was watching the ducks and came to realize they are not so different from people after all.  I know GMG has other contributors with greater knowledge of animals and nature, but I think I can offer some less scientific observations.  These ducks seemed to be holding a meeting in the harbor.

Who called this meeting?

Someone always arrives late…..

There’s the fidgety one……

And there’s always the lucky guy that gets to “duck out”……..

Till the next time……..